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REDUCE THE BURDEN OF HEAVY RAINS WITH THIS EASY-TO-ADD LANDSCAPING SOLUTION
A prii showers lead to May flowers, but heavy rains can easily overwhelm your city's sewer system. In order to manage stormwater volume, many municipalities require commercial property owners to implement strategies that catch or delay the flow of rainwater. Bioswales, shallow trenches filled with vegetation, are a permanent way to filter and clean runoff. Learn how to create and maintain these passive landscape features,
Natural Stormwater Management
Stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution, As rainwater runs across impervious surfaces, a number of contaminants are swept into the stormwater, which is discharged into nearby waterways. Not only can these pollutants be toxic to animal and plant life, but the fast-moving water volume contributes to streambank and channel erosion.
"As humans develop the world, we create impervious surfaces, This changes how water acts when it hits the ground. Instead of soaking into the soil, the water carries sediment, chemicals and auto fluids like oil and antifreeze directly into the discharge system," says Bob Grover, President of Pacific Landscape Management and member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).
Under the umbrella of green infrastructure, bioswales are a cost-effective way to manage inundation from wet weather events. These conveyance systems encourage surface drainage and naturally treat stormwater before it reaches lakes and rivers. The sloped sides of a bioswale also slow down the flow of the water, reducing the burden on a city's storm drains during heavy rains.
"Unlike concrete, which delivers all of the rainwater at once, bioswales send water in batches," explains Michelle Slovensky, Energy Program Manager for NREL. "By reducing peak storm flow, the velocity of textured materials during the conveyance process is lessened."
The Effectiveness of Green Infrastructure
Bioswales...